This Golden Week: Tokyo Area Events For May 3-6

Holiday Special: Exhibitions, Flowers, Gourmet Events And Fun In The City

Great news for anyone staying in and near Tokyo during the second half of this Golden Week: there are plenty of events to keep you entertained no matter what your hobbies are! From stunning flower festivals to musicals and classical ballet, to all-you-can-eat gourmet events and international festivals, Tokyo will be steaming hot over the holidays! Here are our picks of the best events of the week!

A New Take On An Old Favorite

Classical Ballet: Swan Lake

As part of its 20th Anniversary program, Japan's New National Theather presents a revised version of one of the most beloved classical ballet works of all times. This limited Golden Week version retains the elegance of the theater's 2006 edition of the ballet, but adds a new, even more sophisticated, yet modern feeling to it. If you've been longing to see something classical, yet fresh recently, this is your event!

Date

Thu, May 3-Sun, May 6, 2018

Time

From 1 p.m. or 6 p.m.(May 3), From 2 p.m. on all other dates. The show runs for approximately 2.5 hours

Location

The New National Theatre, Opera House, 1-1-1, Hon-machi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Find Him If You Can

'Where's Wally?': Special Exhibition

It's hard to believe but our favorite guy Wally from the popular children’s puzzle book series ‘Where’s Wally?’ is turning 30 this year! To commemorate the special anniversary, Matsuya Ginza is holding a special exhibition which features some 150 original artworks, including early sketches and some never-exhibited-before artworks. Visitors can enjoy a great line-up of unique goods, too, and those visiting on May 5 (aka Wally Day) wearing Wally's trademark red and white shirt will be able to search Wally for free all day long!

Bed Of Flowers

Garden Necklace Yokohama

Stop by at this breathtaking massive garden for a complete feast for the eyes and a splendid view of nature in its best form. Held as part of Yokohama city's annual endeavor to celebrate nature and flowers, the popular Satoyama Garden will be displaying the city's largest flower bed and so much more. Stop by with your camera and plan to stay at least a few hours, because there will be much to see!

Rainbows Reign

Tokyo Rainbow Pride Festival & Parade

Join Japan’s LGBT community and contribute to a diverse, borderless society, at the Tokyo Rainbow Week. The event hosts a series of talks, seminars, live shows and exciting parties with the purpose of raising awareness about the needs of Japan's LGBT community. The highlights of the week are the Pride Festival (May 5-6) and Parade (May 6), which annually attract thousands of people. If you believe in love and equality, here's your chance to prove it!

Aloha Spirit

Odaiba Hawaii Festival

Hula your way to Odaiba for the 16th annual Hawaii festival. Under this year’s theme 'Minoaka' (smile), the week-long event will feature a variety of delicious Hawaiian food, music and performances by national and international artists, Polynesian, Hula and Tahitian dance shows, and so much more that will definitely make you smile! There will be various cultural workshops for kids and adults as well, so come with the whole family and friends — everyone will have fun!

A Floral Getaway

Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival

Don't miss the opportunity to witness the breathtaking beauty of tsutsuji (azalea) at Nezu Shrine's annual Azalea Festival. This famous shrine is home to over 3,000 azalea plants of over 100 varieties blooming from early April until early May. The place gets crowded, but a visit is surely recommended, as the beauty of the sceneries will definitely leave an unforgettable positive impression during your stay in Japan. Performances will take place and you can also enjoy traditional Japanese snacks and drinks, such as manju dumplings, amazake and green tea.

See No Evil

Fuchu Kurayami Festival

With a history dating back to the 11th Century, the Kurayama (Darkness) Festival, is one of the most popular traditional events in Tokyo. As its name suggests, all main events take place after sunset, a tradition held in belief that sacred things should not be seen with the naked eye. The highlight of the festival takes place on May 3, when a massive procession takes place around Okunitama Shrine followed by a spectacular 'komakurabe' (horse procession) demonstration. On May 2, eight mikoshi (portable shrines) are carried around the shrine and cleansed in a ceremony held under the belief that objects' physical appearance is a reflection of the spirit within. If you're a fan of Japanese culture, this is a festival you shouldn't miss!

Date

MON, 30 APRIL - SAT, 5 MAY, 2018

Time

May 2: From 7:30 p.m; May 3: From 6 p.m.; May 4: From 9 a.m.; May 5: From 10 a.m.; May 6: From 4:30 p.m.

All These Flowers!

Showa Kinen Park Flower Festival

The Tachikawa’s Showa Memorial Park is currently hosting the annual Flower Festival, which includes thousands of beautiful tulips and other colorful spring flowers of all kinds. It is a perfect venue to escape from the crowds of Tokyo and enjoy the perfect day in the park. From flower viewing to water play, this park sure is a heaven for family outings!

A-men!

Ramen Girls Festival 2018: Part II

Even though ramen—the high-calorie, late-night noodle bowl or quick lunch choice—is usually associated with Japanese salarymen, this festival is targeting the female lovers of this Japanese soul food. The Ramen Girls Festival offers a wide selection of the best female-friendly noodle bowls in Japan — and no, we don't only mean low calories and low carbs. Men can also join, but may feel a bit out of place — women are in the spotlight here.

An Endless Flower Carpet

Chichibu Shibazakura Festival

If you want an alternative, but equally mesmerizing hanami experience, head to Hitsujiyama Park in Chichibu to see shibazakura (moss phlox). The annual popular Chichibu Shibazakura Festival presents around 400,000 fully bloomed moss phlox that stretch over the Shibazakura Hill, creating a scene as beautiful as a painting. The flowers give a carpet-like atmosphere which fits perfectly with the shape of the hill. The best time to admire the phlox is exactly around Golden Week, so hesitate no more and take the train to Saitama!

Carnivore's Heaven

Meat Festival

The popular Niku Festival (Meat Festival) brings together around 20 well known meat restaurants from across Japan and lets visitors try their best dishes. Besides delicious and savory meat for you to try, there will also be about 30 stalls with craft beer and confectionery goods to maximize your indulgence. The event is so popular that it gathers over five million visitors per year. If the killer combo of meat and beer is not enough for you, there will also be live performances by various artists.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Mary Poppins Musical

Everyone’s all-time favorite nanny is finally arriving in Tokyo and is ready to take the stage in an exciting musical adventure. This show is a perfect opportunity to entertain your kids (or the child within you) with the enchanting mixture of unforgettable songs, incredible dance numbers and an attractive story.

Master’s Collection

Sharaku’s Eye, Utamaro in Love: Best of Ukiyoe Collection

Sharaku Toshusai and Utamaro Kitagawa, two of the greatest ukiyoe painters from late Edo period Japan, continue to entertain the world to date: Sharaku with his comical depiction of actors and Utamaro with his depictions of beautiful women and Yoshiwara, Tokyo's then-red districts. The exhibition, which features 30-plus pieces and related documents, some of which displayed for the first time — is held in commemoration of the museum's reopening in April.

Purple Canopy

Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival

From mid-April until early May every year, Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Koto Ward attracts thousands of visitors when its famous cascades of hanging purple wisteria (fuji) come to full bloom offering one of the most picturesque sceneries in central Tokyo. Apart from admiring the beautiful flowers, with hourly mini events, the festival is also a great place to enjoy vibrant cultural activities and the regular matsuri food stalls. One of Tokyo's spring events you shouldn't miss!!

Beer & Sausages

Yokohama Frühlings Fest

Frühlingfest is a German festival, held to, as its name suggests, welcome spring. Come taste over 200 kinds of German food and beer, see great performances, enjoy fun events with the kids, and buy yourself some unique German omiyage for back home.

Cultural Celebrations

Cambodia Festival

The largest Cambodian festival in Japan, this event features everything from the country's delicious food to souvenir markets and traditional live performances such as Khmer classical dance. If you want to experience the Cambodian culture in a fun and lively atmosphere, head to Yoyogi Park this week.

All You Can Eat!

Japan Food Park

If you're craving some gourmet food this Golden week, make sure to visit Hibiya Park where one of the largest food festivals in Tokyo will be hosted this week. Treat yourself with popular Japanese dishes from Wagyu beef to ramen and everything in-between. And plenty of beer as well, but that goes without saying.